2009 July: Expo News

Pizza Expo® has it covered –– whether you’re looking for new ways to create revenue or just want to fi nd out about the latest industry trends and products. Did you know Pizza Expo is the only industry event where you’ll find more than 70 industry-specific seminars, workshops and demonstrations, 450 exhibiting companies and 1,000 booths all devoted to pizza? Throw in the best networking event in the industry (the Beer and Bull Idea Exchange), as well as all the great contests and competitions (such as the World Pizza Games, International Pizza Challenge, and the Great $20,000 Mega Bucks Giveaway), and it’s no wonder the Food Network named Pizza Expo the best Food Show in the land.

This year’s show brought together nearly 6,000 attendees and 400 exhibiting companies to create one of the largest and best shows ever. And the international presence was astounding. In fact, attendees came from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Norway and Spain — just to name a few. Pizza is a universal food, and there was plenty of it to be found on our show floor that measured over four and a half football fields in size.

If you didn’t get the chance to attend this year’s show, you still have the opportunity to take part by ordering some or all of the informational seminars that were offered at the show.

You can order the seminars through a direct link on the Pizza Expo Web site. It’s also a good way to revisit a seminar or listen to one you might have missed –– and we know there were several you probably wish you could have made during the show. We’d like to thank everyone who attended International Pizza Expo 2009. Without the continued support of pizzeria operators, suppliers, manufacturers and industry experts, we could not have achieved the measure of success that makes International Pizza Expo the must-attend event of the year.

It’s never too early to start making plans for next year’s show, slated for March 2-4, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center — so save the date! We’re already making plans for next year’s Expo, and we think you’ll be pleased with the changes and additions. Change is an important factor in growth, and we’re happy to hear your thoughts and comments on this year’s show. Call our office at (800) 489-8324 or drop me a note at boakley@pizzatoday.com.

Last but not least, International Pizza Expo is a tax-deductible working vacation.